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JS Archive List

By Miguel Useche

Site Structure & Navigation / Categories & Taxonomies

Reviewed by Omar Dabbas

Trusted WordPress expert with 20+ years of experience evaluating plugins for the WP ecosystem.

JS Archive List Review - In-Depth Analysis

A JavaScript widget for displaying a collapsible archive list in posts or sidebars. It supports Gutenberg blocks and offers various customization options.

Performance Overview

WPS Score

6.86/10

User Rating

4.8/5 (based on 45+ reviews)

Active Installations

3,000+

Update Frequency

Below Average It is calculated using the weighted average of same category plugins.

Security Score

6.2 / 10 (Medium Risk) It is calculated using the weighted average of all versions.

What It Does

This plugin provides a widget and a filter to display a collapsible archive list in your sidebar or posts using the JavaScript library.

Features include support for Gutenberg blocks, allowing you to add it to any FSE theme or Gutenberg compatible theme. You can display a collapsed list of your archives to save space, and it uses vanilla JavaScript to ensure compatibility with all browsers.

Users can select their expand/collapse symbol and date format, as well as apply archive filters. The plugin auto expands the current or selected year from posts and allows for the exclusion of specific categories. It supports multiple instances and shortcode usage, generating valid HTML code, and is compatible with most JavaScript cache and minify plugins.

Comparing to Alternatives

JS Archive List is a popular archive widget plugin with several alternatives available that offer similar archive display functionalities.

Top alternatives

Strengths

Simple and effective widget that meets core archive display needs
Compatible with other widgets and plugins
Offers expand/contract options for years and months to manage long archives
Customizable options for displaying specific post categories
Easy to install and add to pages and sidebars

Weaknesses

Has known security vulnerabilities fixed only in recent versions
No pro version or premium features available
Some users report it stopped working on newer WordPress versions
Limited updates and maintenance history

User Sentiment Analysis

The plugin holds a strong positive rating with 95.5% of users giving it 4 or 5 stars, reflecting general satisfaction despite a small number of negative reviews.

Positive highlights

'Fantastic: Thank you' - appreciates simplicity and effectiveness (WritersPage)
'It is a great widget.' (hhtran33)
'Just what I was looking for!' - praises smooth and clean look with responsive developer (Luv2RV)
'Great Plugin' - customizable options for specific categories (katribu)
'Easy and perfect' - easy installation and usage (Piani)

Common complaints

Plugin stopped working on newer WordPress versions, showing jQuery tag as text (tomgardner)

Weaknesses

Limited ongoing maintenance and updates
Known security vulnerabilities prior to version 6.2.0
No premium support or advanced features
Compatibility issues with some WordPress versions

Who Should Use This?

Best for

Users seeking a straightforward, easy-to-use archive widget with expand/collapse functionality and compatibility with other plugins, especially for managing long archives.

Not ideal for

Users requiring a plugin with active ongoing support, advanced premium features, or those concerned about past security vulnerabilities without updating to the latest version.

Pricing & Value

Free version includes

The free version offers a simple and effective archive widget with expand/contract options and compatibility with other widgets and plugins.

Final Verdict

JS Archive List is a well-liked archive widget plugin praised for its simplicity, ease of use, and effective display options. It suits users who want a straightforward solution to manage archives with expand/collapse features and good compatibility with other plugins. The free version provides solid value without requiring payment.

However, users should be aware of past security vulnerabilities that have been addressed in recent updates and the lack of a pro version or premium support. Those needing advanced features or guaranteed ongoing maintenance might consider alternative plugins. Overall, it remains a strong choice for basic archive needs if kept up to date.

Other Notable Features

Here are a few other notable features of this free JS Archive List plugin.

Screenshots

FAQ

Since version 6.0 the widget was migrated to a Gutenberg block. So there will be a Gutenberg block with the most modern code and compatibility and a legacy version that is 100% made in PHP to keep compatibility with older installations.